Chapter 33 New Army Debut

Chapter 33 New Army Debut

Chapter 33 New Army Debut
Shao Quanzhong looked relaxed, "Okay! Please report to Lord Wu, I have no choice but to leave immediately."

The servant came forward and whispered, "Captain Shao, Lord Wu asked me to take care of you. The militia has just been reorganized. If you are not sure of defeating the enemy, you can defend Hailing City to the death."

Shao Quanzhong laughed loudly, "Thank you Lord Wu for your care. This battle is fine. We will be back soon."

He turned around and ordered, "Team One of the Right Battalion, assemble, equip all with guns, and set out to suppress the bandits. Haiqing will continue to temporarily serve as the captain of Team One.

Other troops trained as usual.

Deputy orchestra leader, tell the canteen to keep the lunch quantity and time the same as before."

Zhang Siwen had already gone to announce Shao Quanzhong's order, blew the whistle to assemble the team, and concentrated all the guns into one team.

At present, each militia member has one gun for every three people. They take turns using it during training, but when a war breaks out, they have to use it together.

Le Xiucai quickly advised, "My lord, don't underestimate the enemy."

Shao Quanzhong waved his hand and said, "Now the troops of my Qing Dynasty in Jiangbei are all in Tongcheng to confront Chen Yucheng, and our Taizhou is the rear.

In Hailing City, there is only one captain of the Green Camp, and on paper he has only a hundred soldiers, but in reality it is even fewer - you know.

Let’s not talk about whether the Taiping Army could bypass Yangzhou and attack from the north.

Even if they really came from the north, if you were the leader of the Taiping Army, would you eliminate those dozens of vulnerable double-gun soldiers and then enter the city to rob? Or would you rob food in the north of the city?"

"The group leader has a great idea!"

"Brother Tian, ​​the Speed ​​Squad will participate in the battle and be responsible for reconnaissance before the battle.

Wait for the bandits to flee, and then follow them to see where they go. If there is a chance, catch them and interrogate them.

I smelled a familiar smell when I saw these bandits rushing to the granary as soon as they arrived."

Tian Xing obeyed the order and led the marching team ahead. Hai Qing led ten military policemen and selected ninety soldiers from the first team of the right camp to form a line. With one hundred guns, they passed through Hailing City and headed north.

One hundred new militiamen, whose uniforms looked like those of foreigners, entered the city, one hundred of them carrying foreign guns, but this did not cause panic.

The uniforms for the new army were all contracted out to Wenfuji Trading Company and subcontracted to various tailor shops. Because Wenfuji needed them urgently, the tailor shops made the uniforms and then subcontracted them to various households.

The women in central Jiangsu are clever and deft, and each of them has needlework skills that can stand the test of time. Now, half a month has passed, and only 200 sets of military uniforms have been delivered and all of them have been equipped for militia training.

The militia uniforms were all made in ordinary people’s homes, so of course everyone is familiar with them.

The marching team led by Tian Xing did not wear the new army uniforms and did not carry guns. They moved forward at a very fast speed and disappeared before anyone noticed.

The team from the right battalion at the back was marching much slower at normal speed.

The iron-soled military boots stepped on the granite road unique to Hailing City, making neat and crisp "click" sounds.

The soldiers who did not smoke opium were full of energy and vigor, with rifles slung on their shoulders and bayonets with sharp and neat tips, dazzling in the morning sun.

The three columns, although not forming a straight line when viewed horizontally, vertically or diagonally, are still quite neat.

Judging from the orderliness of the ranks, their appearance, and their mental outlook, this is the only one of its kind in the Qing Dynasty, not even Wall's foreign rifle team can compare.

The common people, who were already worried about the bandits coming to the north of the city, felt relieved when they saw how powerful the Shao militia was when they went to suppress the bandits. They called their friends and went out to the streets to see the new thing.

A team leader named Hai Qing rode a tall horse, with a goose-feather sword on his waist, and walked in the front of the team. Behind him were ten gendarmes who were also riding horses, wearing white armbands and carrying foreign rifles.

In the area of ​​Suzhong, there are numerous rivers and people mainly travel by boat, so there are not many horses in the village.

The four brothers originally had one horse each, and they also received more than a dozen horses from Yang Yong. Currently, only officers above the rank of captain, military police, and Shao Quanzhong's personal soldiers were equipped with horses.

Ordinary new soldiers only had "external belts", while officers, bodyguards and gendarmes were equipped with more handsome "armament belts", which were wider and worn diagonally.

Ordinary soldiers wore short boots and leather gaiters, while officers wore large leather boots.

Haiqing was fully armed and felt that he looked extremely handsome. Seeing the people lining the streets to welcome him, he felt even more proud.

I was a young eunuch in the Prince Su's Palace, bowing and kowtow all day long, serving people. After marrying my second brother, I felt so powerful, how could I compare to being a young eunuch?
In an excited mood, he waved his hand and said, "Sing the military song!"

A neat and loud military song sounded, with Haiqing's sharp voice particularly prominent.

"...

Third, we must treat the people well, for we depend on their farming for food and wages;
As long as the soldiers and civilians become one family, the common people will help each other and achieve success. ..."

When this military song came out, the people were excited.

Throughout the ages, the most common military song is "I am your comrade in arms", which is full of gay sentiments. How can there be any military song about caring for the common people?

The new militia has been established for more than half a month and has been training in Shaojiawei. No one has ever been seen doing harm to the people.

Now that they have made their debut, their spirit and love for the people like their own children make them worthy of being called the soldiers of Taizhou.

When Yue Wumu led the Yue Family Army to station in Taizhou, it was probably no more than this.

This group of soldiers went to fight the bandits and protect everyone's safety. Immediately, shops along the street came out with food and drinks to reward the soldiers.

The soldiers all refused to accept the attack, lined up in neat rows, sang military songs, and marched forward in big strides.

The reception room of the Salt Transport Commissioner's Office gathered officials of all ranks and several gentry representatives from Taizhou.

The gentry came to petition Lord Qiao Songnian, the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner, to eliminate the bandits in the north of the city.

Shao Quanzhong's direct superior is Wu Wenxi, but Wu Wenxi was recommended by Qiao Songnian, so Qiao is the theoretical boss of this militia team.

As for the captain who was hanging around nearby, the gentry ignored him at all.

It is normal for the Green Camp soldiers to draw salaries without working. There are only a few dozen of them in total. Do they dare to suppress the bandits who are said to number more than 200?

Even if you dare to go, the current Green Camp military camp is like a market during the day and a red-light district at night, and the soldiers are always smoking cigarettes. Are you sure they can fight?

Lord Qiao decided to form a militia because the Green Camp was useless and not under his control.

Unable to resist the pleas of the city's gentry and elders, nor the orders of Lord Qiao, Wu Wenxi had to send people to urge Shao Quanzhong to suppress the bandits, feeling anxious.

Even if Shao Quanzhong could train his troops, how could he achieve any results in more than half a month? He would probably have to shirk responsibility and it would be good enough if he could send someone to guard the north gate.

He was ready to argue with the gentry and defend the militia.

Suddenly, they heard cheers and loud military songs in the street. Everyone was surprised and, led by Lord Qiao, ran to the street to watch the excitement.

Just then they saw Haiqing leading his troops, marching in formation. The image of this new army stunned all the gentlemen and gentry.

Wu Wenxi, who was on the left of Lord Qiao, hurriedly blew the trumpet for his militia, "The servants who were sent to mobilize the troops have just left for a while, and the militia has already set out. Shao Quanzhong is really loyal."

To the right of Lord Qiao is the prefect of Taizhou, who has no sense of presence.

Originally he was the boss of Taizhou, but the Taiping Army captured Yangzhou three times and defeated the Jiangbei camp.

After the Taiping Army robbed everything, the Qing Army drove the Taiping Army away. Qishan once closed the city gates and allowed his soldiers to burn and kill in Yangzhou for seven days. Yangzhou was so burnt that nine out of ten houses were deserted and it was no longer a good place to stay.

Qiao, the Lianghuai salt transport commissioner, had to move his station to Taizhou. Qiao was a high-ranking official, and when he arrived, the governor of Taizhou had no say.

The prefect had to flatter Lord Qiao, "The militia Lord Qiao built is indeed extraordinary.

When one raises his feet, ten thousand feet fire at once; when one raises his gun, ten thousand guns fire at once. Walking is like a rushing wave; standing is like a planted tree.

Among all the armies I have seen in recent years, none can match them."

This was not only flattery but also the truth, and all the officials and gentry nodded.

Lord Qiao was very pleased, glanced at the Green Camp Captain hiding in the corner, and said, "Tsk!", "It's all thanks to Lord Wu's hard work.

Lord Wu is honest and upright, brave and responsible, and the people are willing to welcome him with food and drink. How can other incompetent people compare to him?"

The always lowered his head to count the ants on the ground and became deaf.

Qiao Songnian twirled his beard and said, "It's just that the number of people is a little less..."

Wu Wenxi quickly explained, "The militia is equipped with the latest foreign rifles, which are expensive. We can't afford more equipment."

Lord Qiao nodded and said, "As long as the troops can fight and keep the three states of Tongtai and Yang under my command safe, I don't care if it costs more money.

If the suppression of the bandits is successful this time, the Salt Transport Office will immediately allocate 30,000 taels of military pay!"

(End of this chapter)